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I am interested in this car because of the good gas mileage and all wheel drive. I'd really like a new Forester, but the mileage is not nearly as good. We have snow and I'm a bit concerned that the clearance on the Impreza is only 4.5 inches, versus 7 or 8 on the Forester. Any one have any experience with this new car?
Thanks,
Liz

I can't comment on the new Impreza, but we have a 2009 Impreza, and love it. We live in Winnipeg, and usually see a fair amount of snow, and have never had a concern regarding clearance. The only complaint I have is that in cold weather there are a lot of squeaks and rattles, but looking at your location, I don't think that's an issue

Actually we have cold winters and snow, sometimes as much as 4 feet. That's why we need AWD. I had an Impreza the first year it came out in'93 and it had a few problems including the AC. I replaced it with a 2001 Legacy, which my son has now. We currently have a 4 x 4 Ford 150 and need better gas mileage.
Liz

We have a 2003 Impreza and boy does it handle the road under any condition. Last January we were getting ready to drive to the airport to catch our flight to Palm Springs, to escape winter. It snowed overnight and the Subaru looked buried. I told my husband we would have to dig it out in order to get it off the parking spot and onto the road. He just shook his head, got in, and drove in onto the road through DEEP snow as if it was the middle of summer! Gas mileage is great too.

Last year our son-in-law bought a Subaru WRX STI and is that ever a wonderful car, vroom vroom vroom!

A 'crossover' would be unlikely to get better mileage than a Forester, and Forester is rated one of the safest cars available. If they are making a change to a well proven design, there may be some incentives available to soften the blow of slightly lower mileage.

I am interested in this car because of the good gas mileage and all wheel drive. I'd really like a new Forester, but the mileage is not nearly as good. We have snow and I'm a bit concerned that the clearance on the Impreza is only 4.5 inches, versus 7 or 8 on the Forester. Any one have any experience with this new car?
Thanks,
Liz

Not sure what model Impreza you're looking at, but if getting good gas mileage is important, you should take a look at Volkswagen's Jetta Sportwagen 30 mpg city/42 hy or their Passat diesel, 31 city/43 hy. Not bad numbers there

I am interested in this car because of the good gas mileage and all wheel drive. I'd really like a new Forester, but the mileage is not nearly as good. We have snow and I'm a bit concerned that the clearance on the Impreza is only 4.5 inches, versus 7 or 8 on the Forester. Any one have any experience with this new car?
Thanks,
Liz

A friend is geting one soon (factory order) Are you looking at a manual or an automatic? The auto has a CVT transmission. I currently have in a AWD with a CVT (not a subaru) and hate it. I think the stick is a better choice IMO.

Can't look at VW as we live in the mountains with snow and need AWD. I do not want to go back to a stick, my 2001 Subaru Legacy was my first automatic and I loved it. We'll have to do some test driving.
Liz